Water column for locomotives



March 2 1926.

A. H. OELKERS WATER comm FOR LOCOMOTIVES 2 She ets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 14

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEYS A. H. OELKERS WATER COLUMN FOR LOCOMOTIVES March 2 1926.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14 J 1925 BY a ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

UNITED" STATES ALFRED H. OELKEBS, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

' WATER COLUMN Application filed January 1' all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED H. OIJLKERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resi dent of Springfield, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, United States of America; have invented a new and Improved Vater Column for Locomotives, of which the following is a full, clear, and act description.

This invention relates to boilers for locomotives and is more particularly directed to a water column applicable to such boilers.

An object of the invention is the provision of a water column for boilers for locomotives which is of such a character that it will be universally applicable to different sizes and types of locomotives.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a water column which will permit a complete cleaning of the passages leading into the boiler and the body of the water column.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a water column having such a safe and strong connection with a boiler that in case of an accident the device will be distorted without rupture, thereby preventing scalding of the operator of the locomotive.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description in View of the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification; nevertheless it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no ma terial departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my improved water column connected to a locomotive boiler.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the water column with the boiler partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the lower connection between the water column and a locomotive boiler.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view, partly in section of the device shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front view in elevation of the same.

Fig. 6 is a modified form of the device shown in Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the draw- FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

14, 1925. Serial m. 2,333.

ings, l designates a locomotive boiler having a steam dome 2 to which a water column by a union 7, the nipple 6 being threaded into a perforation in the boiler.

The column 3 is provided with threaded perforations adjacent its upper and lower ends into which are. screwed nipples The upper nipple 8 connects the water column 3 with a valve 9, while the lower nipple is connected to a conduit 10 and a glass cylinder 11. The flow of the water into the glass cylinder is controlled at its lower end by a valve 12, while the communication is controlled between the upper end of the glass cylinder and the water column .3 by the valve 9. Gage cocks 13 are screwed into threaded openings in the wall of the column 3 and the construction of said column isof the usual type. The fixturesincluded with the glass cylinder 11 are of the usual type and need no further explanation. i

Projecting outwardly. from the body,

member 3 are a pair of ears 14 adapted to be connected by a pin 15 to a pair of ears 16 on the body ofthe boiler 1. The lower end of the body member 3 is provided with an opening into which is adapted to be screwed a nipple 17, the lower endof the nipple being threaded into an opening 18 formed at the upper end of a joint or connecting device generally designated by the numeral 19. The connecting device 19 is provided with a central passage 20. Threaded openings are in communication with the passage 20. Into said openings are respectively screwed the threaded plugs '21 and 22. These plugs are provided for draining and cleaning the pipe connection when desired.

An offset conduit 23 is in communication with the conduit20 and has its lower end internally threaded as shown at 24 to receive a pipe connection 25.

26 in opencommunication with the passage 20. The free end of conduit 26 is rounded as shown at 27 to be received within a socket 28 on the outer end of a threaded Diametrioally opposite the plug 21 is provided a conduit necting member 19.

adapted to receive the nipple 29. The plate is provided with pairs of spaced-ears 32 between which are'received bolts 33. The head of each bolt engages said ears, while theother' end is inserted through perforations in flanges 34c projecting laterally from the connecting device 19. A nut as is usual locks the bolts to the cooperating flanges 3% and the ears 32.

The flanges 34: as it appearsit'rom Figures 4: and 5 are formed integrally withthc con- In the modified form of the connecting device shown in Fig. 6, the body member 19" is provided with a horizontal connection 85, into which is adapted to be screwed the pipe 25. In other words the essential difference between the device shown in Fig. (i and that shown in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive is the fact that pipe 85 is a straight connection, while the conduit 23 is bent downwardly for disposing the vertical contact 25 in spaced I relation with the conduit 20 of the connecting device 19. a I

It will be seen by this construction that any boiler may be fitted with a water column by varying the lengths of the nipples 17 as rupture and thus eliminating the danger of scalding ofthe operators of the locomotives.

: I claim:

1. In a locomotive boiler having a water column, "a means for connecting the water column to said boiler comprising a hollow body having a threadedopening, a pipe member screwed into the opening and adapted to beconnected to the water column, said hollow'body being provided with attaching ears having perforations, a nipple screwed into the boiler and having a flanged outer end, a perforated plate received by the nipple and engaging the flange, said plate being provided with, pairs of spacedears, and bolts located between each pair of spaced ears. and also passed through-the perforations in the flanges on the body member for locking the body mem-, her to the nipple.

v2. In a locomotive boiler having a water column, means for connecting the water column to said boiler and comprising a joint in the form of a hollow body memberprovided with diametrically disposed horizontal passagesand alined vertical passages at the opposite end of the joint, a nipple threaded into the upper vertical passage, a plug closing the other vertical passage, a plug for closing one of the horizontal passages, a hollow'boss formed integrally with the joint and alined with the. other. horizontal passage, a conduit projectingoutwardly and downwardly from the joint adjacent the lower horizontal passage and having an internally threaded opening to receive a threaded pipe connection, means on the joint for aiding in alining the pipe connection-in sealed relation with thehollow boss; I

' ALFRED n. inus. 

